Disabled man, 74, strapped himself into his motorised wheelchair and drove off harbour wall just moments after he was seen feeding the seagulls in Dorset, inquest hears
A disabled man drowned after strapping himself into his motorised wheelchair and driving off a harbour wall, an inquest has been told.
Murdo Macleod Mackenzie, 74, was seen feeding seagulls at Poole Quay in Dorset just moments before he appeared to steer the machine towards the water.
The retired electrical engineer plunged over the edge of the quayside wall and sank 15ft to the bottom in front of shocked bystanders.
The crew of a moored-up pleasure boat used a grapple hook in attempts to save him, as emergency services rushed to the scene on Tuesday last week at about 1.10pm.
They recovered Mr Mackenzie's body after about 20 minutes and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Murdo Macleod Mackenzie, 74, drowned after strapping himself into his motorised wheelchair and driving off a harbour wall at Poole Quay in Dorset, an inquest heard
The retired electrical engineer plunged over the edge of the quayside wall
Dorset Police used photographic evidence to identify Mr Mackenzie and notify his family. Officers have said they are not treating the death as suspicious.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was drowning.
Mr Mackenzie, married to Margaret, was originally from Stornoway, Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland but lived in Bournemouth.
At the opening of his inquest in Bournemouth, coroner's officer Nicola Muller said: 'On October 22 police had been called after members of the public saw a member of the public fall into the quay.
'The RNLI were searching for him and took his body out of the water where he was declared dead at the scene.
'The emergency services used photographic ID to identify him.
'There are no suspicious circumstances for Mr Mackenzie's death.'
Brendan Allen, the area coroner for Dorset, confirmed that he would be seeking statements from Mr Mackenzie's family, his GP, any mental health services who had contact with him, alcohol services and the police before holding a full inquest.
Mr Mackenzie was originally from Stornoway, Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides but lived in Bournemouth
Chris Lord, who was at Poole Quay at the time of the death, posted on social media: 'A man in a wheelchair deliberately motored it over the quay edge in front of loads of public out for a walk'
The RNLI were called on Tuesday last week and helped in rescue efforts at Poole Quay
A woman who works in a quayside shop said following the death: 'We think it was an elderly man who had lost a leg late in life and was struggling with it.
'It's just extremely sad. The emergency services were here very quickly.
'When they got here there were still people filming and there were officers shouting at them to stop.'
A local resident said: 'My dad was having a drink in a pub there and he rang me to say that they had seen a man in a wheelchair with one leg.
'He was seen going at speed straight over the edge. He was strapped to his wheelchair so they couldn't get him out. He was under the water for some time before anybody got to him.
'I just feel sorry for his family and for him.'
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said officers had responded to reports of a concern for the welfare of the man in the water.
Dorset Police have said they are not treating the death at Poole Quay as suspicious
An inquest into Murdo Macleod Mackenzie's death at Poole Quay has opened in Bournemouth
A post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was drowning, a court heard
They said: 'Officers attended with the ambulance and fire services, as well as the coastguard and RNLI. Very sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.'
In 2011 a young disabled woman drowned when her wheelchair rolled off the Cobb wall in nearby Lyme Regis, Dorset.
Clair Perkins, 20, was with her parents at the time of the tragic accident. After her inquest, the family thanked all those who had tried to help.
Anyone struggling with their mental health can call Connection, a 24/7 helpline open to all, on 0800 652 0190 or NHS 111 or the Samaritans on 116 123 for free.
